Methuen police department and front line services seek to create a crisis intervention team

Methuen police and front line services understand the need to divert behavioral calls for service away from the emergency rooms and criminal justice system by utilizing a clinically trained team that can meet the needs of the community. Additionally, front line services has worked to create a model built on person-centered principles while providing ongoing support to aid in remaining out of crisis while seeking a permanent support network can be put in place. Methuen police and front line services will partner to provide access to a masters level trained clinician that will provide direct support to the community through crisis response and post-crisis outreach. The outcomes of this project are to decrease the behavioral health calls for services responded to by law enforcement alone, to decrease unnecessary emergency room visits and criminal arrests, to increase connections to outpatient supports, increase initial engagement in cross-over/bridge supports post-crisis, and to increase equitable access through providing culturally and linguistically competent services to the community.